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Alumni did not cause firing

| Friday, December 3, 2004

Michael Wilbon’s column “Notre Dame’s True Colors” [in the Dec. 1 The Washington Post] spoke many truths flavored with some significant inaccuracies. No doubt “the powers that be” must have had Tyrone Willingham in their sights, or he would still be employed. But to claim the alumni and students just tolerated Willingham is an outright falsehood. A quick glance at Wednesday’s edition of The Observer indicates the outrage of the students. As an alumnae who keeps in touch with many classmates, I can assure you the outrage is widespread among us as well. As luck would have it, I received a call from the University soliciting donations the day after Willingham was fired. When I told them I was so ashamed of their actions that if I hadn’t already sent my check I wouldn’t be sending one, the student making the call said he had been hearing the same thing all night. Sometimes even great institutions make mistakes. I am sorry to say I agree Notre Dame just made a colossal one, but it was not at the behest of the alums.